Have You Cried Out With Blind Dependence?
Good Morning Friends,
The Bible is filled with examples of times when God answered the cries of His people. Here are a few examples of occasions on which individuals cried out to God and God heard their cries and delivered them. Elijah cried out, and God revived a dead child. The Israelites cried out on the seventh day after walking around the city and the walls of Jericho came down. Though I do not list the scripture below, Jehoshaphat cried out, and God delivered him from death. Hezekiah cried out, and God gave him victory. Jesus’ disciples cried out to Him in a storm, and Jesus calmed the sea. The list is extensive. The scripture for Sunday was of Blind Bartimaeus calling to Jesus, and how Jesus restored his sight. Crying out seems to be part of the equation of how miracles happen. How prayer intersects with glorifying God. But it takes some faith to exact. Have You Cried Out With Blind Dependence?
Scripture: Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.’
Psalm 50:15 (NRSV)
He cried out to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?’ Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.’ The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.
I Kings 17:20–22 (NRSV)
So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpets, they raised a great shout, and the wall fell down flat; so the people charged straight ahead into the city and captured it. Then they devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.
Joshua 6:20-21 (NRSV)
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’
Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Mark 10:46-52(NRSV)
Message: Throughout history, believers have cried out to God in times of distress. Sometimes after years of praying, a single cry brings direction or deliverance instantly. Many have wondered why there are such powerful results from simply crying out to God, yet the promise is clear. God responds to the cries of the poor and we should too. Scripture teaches us that we are to call out to God in our times of need as well.
Today’s stories in scriptures are about miracles happening when we call out in faith to the Lord. Characteristics of a cry for help are humility, that we cannot do anything without Jesus, surrender, and a plea for mercy, but also recognition of God’s power and resources. Crying out to God is an act of desperation and total concentration. It is a fervent expression of faith in God and trust in His goodness and power to act on your behalf. So today’s stories are about how Jesus carries out His mission, how God invested His time and focus… how He opens our eyes to His ways. Appreciate especially the setting of the story of Blind Bartimaeus on the road to Jerusalem in Jericho. Jesus is in the final week of His ministry. Observe the crowds and how they love Him because they believe He will soon deliver them from the yoke of the Romans. Understand that these same crowds will soon be crying, “Crucify him,”… that soon Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, beaten and killed. As you look into the story notice how Jesus, the crowd and the blind men react. Distinguish the pace of people’s responses and timing. Notice that Jesus slowed down when He heard the cry of humility. See with Jesus the big picture, an investment in something eternal. Perceive how He puts service before self. Witness that it was compassion that prompted His investment in others. Focus on the fact that Jesus provides a response to the requests that very instant. Friends, as we grope around in the darkness of our sins we begin to see that we must have blind dependence on Jesus. We are not in control. But if we depend on Jesus, he is ready to turn each and every moment of our lives into an opportunity. Make no mistake about this, when Bartimaeus through off his cloak he was giving up all that he had to follow Jesus with blind dependence.
Pray we cry out to God in the time of our need in a way that might glorify God. Pray we ask Jesus for what we want Him to do. Pray we encourage others in need to take heart and to rise up and join in the expression of community that follows Jesus.
Pray we experience what it is to have a child of God faith. Pray we see that Jesus is the Christ. Pray we see that this is our only chance. Pray we see that the crowd is wrong. Pray we see that our actions will make us look like fools in the eyes of the world. Pray we see there is no turning back. Pray we see our obvious need for Christ. Pray we see that we were born to bless not beg. Pray we open our spiritual eyes and see. Pray we have enough faith to believe. Pray we too publicly acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of David. Pray
that we walk together with Christ.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 